Stroller

ABSTRACT

A collapsible stroller comprising a handle assembly, a front leg assembly and a rear leg assembly pivotably connected to one another such that the stroller is able to be moved between a folded configuration, where the front leg and handle assemblies are folded to positions substantially adjacent to the rear leg assembly, and an unfolded configuration, where the front leg and handle assemblies are unfolded to positions away from the rear leg assembly, and a link assembly comprising a front member and a rear member pivotally connected to one another, wherein the front member is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the front leg assembly and the rear member is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the rear leg assembly, such that when the stroller is moved to its folded configuration the front and rear members are folded toward each other to lie substantially adjacent to one another and the front and rear leg assemblies, and when the stroller is moved to its unfolded configuration the front and rear members are folded away from each other and the front and rear leg assemblies such that they are substantially coplanar with one another, and wherein the link assembly further comprises a biasing means for biasing the front and rear link members toward their unfolded positions.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/842,328, filed Apr. 7, 2020, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference and relied upon.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a stroller.

BACKGROUND

In general, strollers are wheeled devices used to transport a passenger,typically a child. Strollers are generally configured to fold orcollapse when not in use in order to occupy less space. Mechanisms thatenable strollers to fold or collapse often create significant pinchpoints where a user of the seat can be pinched during the folding andunfolding of the stroller. Such mechanisms can also be quite complex,resulting in a stroller that may be difficult or awkward to fold andunfold, and resulting in a stroller having a significant weight whichcan be difficult to handle when folded.

It is against this background that the present disclosure has beendeveloped.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a collapsible strollercomprising a handle assembly, a front leg assembly and a rear legassembly pivotably connected to one another such that the stroller isable to be moved between a folded configuration, where the front leg andhandle assemblies are folded to positions substantially adjacent to therear leg assembly, and an unfolded configuration, where the front legand handle assemblies are unfolded to positions away from the rear legassembly and a link assembly comprising a front member and a rear memberpivotally connected to one another, wherein the front member ispivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the front leg assemblyand the rear member is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion ofthe rear leg assembly, such that when the stroller is moved to itsfolded configuration the front and rear members are folded toward eachother to lie substantially adjacent to one another and the front andrear leg assemblies, and when the stroller is moved to its unfoldedconfiguration the front and rear members are folded away from each otherand the front and rear leg assemblies such that they are substantiallycoplanar with one another, and wherein the link assembly furthercomprises a biasing means for biasing the front and rear link memberstoward their unfolded positions.

In one form, the biasing means is in the form of at least one torsionspring.

In one form, the at least one torsion spring is located at a pivotalconnection between the rear leg assembly and the rear link member, suchthat it biases the rear link member away from the rear leg assembly.

In one form, the at least one torsion spring is located at a pivotalconnection between the front leg assembly and the front link member,such that it biases the front link member away from the front legassembly.

In one form, the at least one torsion spring is located at a pivotalconnection between the front link member and the rear link member, suchthat it biases the front link member and the rear link member away fromeach other toward their respective unfolded positions.

In one form, the stroller further comprises a locking means for lockingthe handle and link assemblies in their unfolded positions, and arelease means for releasing the handle and link assemblies from theirrespective unfolded positions.

In one form, the release means comprises a strap located on the linkassembly, wherein lifting of the strap releases the handle and linkassemblies.

In one form, release of the handle assembly causes the handle tocollapse due to self-weight against the rear leg assembly.

In one form, further lifting of the centre-pull strap causes the frontand rear link members to fold toward one another and the front legassembly to fold toward the rear leg assembly.

The collapsible stroller of any one of the preceding claims, furthercomprising a latching means for locking the handle and front legassembly in their folded positions substantially adjacent the rear legassembly, and a release means for releasing the handle and front legassemblies from their respective folded positions.

In one form, wherein upon release of the front leg assembly, the biasingmeans causes the link assembly and the front leg assembly to move totheir unfolded positions.

In one form, the front leg assembly comprises a forward end portionconfigured to support at least one front wheel, and a rearward endportion comprising two legs which extend away from the forward endportion along either side of the stroller.

In one form, the rear leg assembly comprises a lower end portionconfigured to support at least one rear wheel, and an upper portioncomprising two legs which extend away from the lower end portion alongeither side of the stroller.

In one form, the handle assembly comprises a handle portion and two sidearms extending away from the handle portion along either side of thestroller.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a collapsible strollercomprising a handle assembly, a front leg assembly and a rear legassembly pivotably connected to one another such that the stroller isable to be moved between a folded configuration, where the front leg andhandle assemblies are folded to positions substantially adjacent to therear leg assembly, and an unfolded configuration, where the front legand handle assemblies are unfolded to positions away from the rear legassembly, and a seat assembly comprising a front seat member and a rearseat member pivotally connected to one another, wherein the front seatmember is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the frontleg assembly and the rear seat member is pivotally connected to anintermediate portion of the rear leg assembly, such that when thestroller is moved to its folded configuration the front and rear membersare folded toward each other to lie substantially adjacent to oneanother and the front and rear leg assemblies, and when the stroller ismoved to its unfolded configuration the front and rear members arefolded away from each other and the front and rear leg assemblies suchthat they are substantially coplanar with one another, providing asupport surface for a passenger of the stroller to sit on, wherein thelink assembly further comprises a biasing means for biasing the frontand rear seat members toward their unfolded positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a collapsible stroller frame inan unfolded configuration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the collapsible stroller frame of FIG. 1A inan unfolded configuration;

FIG. 1C is a bottom perspective view of the collapsible stroller frameof FIG. 1A in an unfolded configuration;

FIG. 1D is a rear perspective view of the collapsible stroller frame ofFIG. 1A in an unfolded configuration;

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the collapsible stroller frame ofFIG. 1A in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the collapsible stroller frame of FIG. 1A in apartially folded configuration;

FIG. 2C is a bottom perspective view of the collapsible stroller frameof FIG. 1A in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 2D is a rear perspective view of the collapsible stroller frame ofFIG. 1A in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the collapsible stroller frame ofFIG. 1A in a folded configuration;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the collapsible stroller frame of FIG. 1A in afolded configuration;

FIG. 3C is a rear perspective view of the collapsible stroller frame ofFIG. 1A in a folded configuration;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the collapsiblestroller frame of FIG. 1A with the link assembly removed;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a collapsible stroller in an unfoldedconfiguration; and

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the collapsible stroller of FIG.5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1A to 6 there is shown a collapsible stroller 1,comprising a handle assembly 40, a front leg assembly 10 and a rear legassembly 20, pivotably connected to one another such that the strolleris able to be moved between a folded (or stowed) configuration, wherethe front leg and handle assembly are folded to positions substantiallyadjacent to the rear leg assembly, and an unfolded (or deployed)configuration, where the front leg and handle assemblies 10, 40 areunfolded to positions away from the rear leg assembly 20, and a linkassembly 60 comprising a front member 61 and a rear member 64 pivotallyconnected to one another, wherein the front member 61 is pivotallyconnected to an intermediate portion of the front leg assembly 10 andthe rear member 64 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion ofthe rear leg assembly 20, such that when the stroller 1 is able to bemoved to its folded configuration the front and rear members 61, 64 arefolded toward each other to lie substantially adjacent to one anotherand the front and rear leg assemblies 10, 20 and when the stroller 1 ismoved to its unfolded configuration the front and rear members 61, 64are folded away from each other and the front and rear leg assemblies10, 20 such that they are substantially coplanar with one another, andwherein the link assembly 60 further comprises a biasing means forbiasing the front and rear members 61, 64 toward their unfoldedpositions.

In the embodiment shown, the link assembly 60 providing a supportsurface for a passenger (or occupant) of the stroller 1 to sit on whenthe stroller 1 is in an unfolded configuration (as best shown in FIGS. 5and 6).

As best seen in FIGS. 1A to 1D, the front leg assembly 10 is configuredto support two front wheels 13. It will be appreciated that in analternative embodiment, the stroller 1 may instead comprise a singlefront wheel, as is common in jogger type strollers. The front legassembly 10 comprises a forward end portion 11 configured to support thefront wheels 13, and a rearward end portion comprising two legs 12 whichextend away from the forward end portion 11 along either side of thestroller 1.

The rear leg assembly 20 comprises a lower end portion 22 configured tosupport two rear wheels 23, and an upper end portion comprising two legs21 which extend away from the lower end portion 22 along either side ofthe stroller 1.

As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 1D, the rearward end portion legs 12 of thefront leg assembly 10 and the upper end portion legs 21 of the rear legassembly 20 are pivotally connected to one another by a folding assembly50. For the purposes of this description, a single folding assembly willbe described. As best shown in FIG. 4, each folding assembly 50comprises a first rotatable member 51 rotatably coupled to a pivotmember 53 supported by an upper end portion leg 21 of the rear legassembly 20, a rearward end portion 12 of the front leg assembly 10being attached to the first rotatable member 51 such that the front legassembly 10 is pivotably rotatable with respect to the rear leg assembly20.

The handle assembly 40 comprises a handle portion having two side armsextending away from the handle portion along either side of thestroller. The handle assembly is also connected and pivotable withrespect to the rear wheel support 20 by virtue of the folding assembly50. The folding assembly 50 also comprising a second rotatable member 52attached to the handle assembly 40 and rotatably coupled to the pivotmember 53.

The first and second rotatable members 51, 52 are configured to rotateindependently of one another, such that the front leg assembly 10 andhandle assembly 40 independently fold in relation to the rear legassembly 20. It will be appreciated that by virtue of the rotatablerelationship between the rotatable members 51, 52 and the pivot member53, the stroller 1 is able to be moved between its folded (or stowed)configuration (as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C) and unfolded (or deployed)configuration (as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C). It can also be seen that thelink assembly 60 connected to the front and the rear leg assemblies 10,20 also moves such that the front rear members 61, 64 fold toward oneanother as the stroller 1 moves from its unfolded configuration to itsfolded configuration.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the means for biasing the link assembly 60 towardits unfolded position is in the form of a torsion spring 68 inconnection with the rear leg assembly 20 and the rearward end portion 66of the rear member 64 of the link assembly 60. It will be appreciatedthat the torsion spring 68 acts on the rear member 64 to urge the linkassembly 60 toward its deployed position.

In alternate embodiments, the means for biasing the link assembly 60toward the unfolded position may take other forms, such as a torsionspring acting on the front member 61 of the link assembly 60 or atorsion spring positioned about the hinge pin 67 at the pivotal linkbetween the front member 61 and the rear member 64.

It will be appreciated that the biasing means urging the link assembly60 toward its unfolded configuration acts as an assisting force when auser is unfolding the stroller 1. It will further be appreciated thatthe biasing means also acts to maintain the stroller 1 in its unfoldedconfiguration.

The stroller 1 also comprises a tether member 70 in the form of aflexible cable, where one end of the tether member 70 is in connectionwith the stroller frame via the pivot member 53 and the other end of thetether member 70 is in connection with the hinge pin 67 of the linkassembly 60. It will be appreciated that when the stroller 1 is in theunfolded position, the tether member 70 acts as a tensile member,preventing over rotation of the link assembly 60 (maintaining a flatseating surface with the front member and rear member 61, 64substantially coplanar, and transferring the weight of the occupant onthe seat (formed by the link assembly 60) to the stroller frame via thepivot member 53. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A to 3C, when the stroller ismoved to a folded configuration, the tether member 70, by virtue of itsflexibility, is able to flexibly deform as the link assembly 60 and thefront and rear leg assemblies 10, 20 fold together, preventing, or atleast reducing, the risk of pinch points. It will be appreciated that inalternative embodiments, the tether member may be in the form of ahinged member extending between the stroller frame and the link assembly60.

A description of the process of folding and unfolding of the strollerwill now be provided.

Folding Procedure

Starting in the deployed (or unfolded) configuration as shown in FIGS.1A to 1D, the folding assembly 50 is unlocked by first actuating a firstrelease means in the form of a release button (not shown) and thenactuating a second release means in the form of a centre-pull strap 90extending from the rear member 64 of the link assembly 60. Actuation ofthe centre-pull strap 90 is performed by lifting the strap up. Thistwo-step unlocking procedure and use of a centre-pull strap is known inthe art and is necessary to satisfy local safety standards. It will beappreciated that alternative unlocking procedures may also be possible.

Upon actuating the centre-pull strap 90, the second rotatable member 52is unlocked and allowed to rotate with respect to the pivot member 53,resulting in the handle assembly 40 collapsing due to self-weight androtating about the pivot member 53 until it is locked against the rearleg assembly 20 by a locking means in the form of a frame lock 80 asshown in FIGS. 2A to 2D.

As also shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, as the centre-pull strap 90 is liftedfurther, the link assembly 60 begins to fold, with the strap applying alifting force to the rear member 64 adjacent the hinge pin 67, which inturn assists in pulling the front leg assembly 10 inwardly. It will beappreciated, that once the initial movement is started, and thecentre-pull strap 90 is lifted further still, self-weight will cause thefront leg assembly 10 to fold toward and become locked against the rearleg assembly 20 by the frame lock 80 in the folded (or collapsed)configuration as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. It will be appreciated thatthe folding of the link assembly 60 causes the torsion spring 68 tobecome loaded to assist in the unfolding procedure described below.

Unfolding Procedure

Starting in the folded position as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the framelock 80 is actuated causing the handle assembly 40 to be released fromthe rear leg assembly 20, where it is unfolded to its unfolded position(as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D). Actuation of the frame lock 80 also causesthe front leg assembly 10 to be released from the rear leg assembly 20,where by virtue of the spring force applied by the torsion spring 68 onthe rear member 64 of the link assembly 60, the front leg assembly 10unfolds to its deployed position (as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D).

Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless thecontext requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and “include” andvariations such as “comprising” and “including” will be understood toimply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but notthe exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and shouldnot be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that suchprior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention isnot restricted in its use to the particular application described.Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodimentwith regard to the particular elements and/or features described ordepicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is notlimited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable ofnumerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined bythe following claims.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A collapsible stroller comprising: a handleassembly, a front leg assembly and a rear leg assembly pivotablyconnected to one another such that the stroller is able to be movedbetween a folded configuration, where the front leg and handleassemblies are folded to positions substantially adjacent to the rearleg assembly, and an unfolded configuration, where the front leg andhandle assemblies are unfolded to positions away from the rear legassembly; a link assembly comprising a front member and a rear memberpivotally connected to one another, wherein the front member ispivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the front leg assemblyand the rear member is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion ofthe rear leg assembly, such that when the stroller is moved to itsfolded configuration the front and rear members are folded toward eachother to lie substantially adjacent to one another and the front andrear leg assemblies, and when the stroller is moved to its unfoldedconfiguration the front and rear members are folded away from each otherand the front and rear leg assemblies such that they are substantiallycoplanar with one another; and a locking member configured to lock thefront leg and handle assemblies relative to the rear leg assembly whenthe stroller is in its folded configuration.
 17. The collapsiblestroller of claim 16, wherein the locking member is located on the rearleg assembly.
 18. The collapsible stroller of claim 16, wherein thecollapsible stroller has a left side opposite a right side, and whereinthe front member extends from the left side to the right side.
 19. Thecollapsible stroller of claim 16, wherein the collapsible stroller has aleft side opposite a right side, and wherein the rear member extendsfrom the left side to the right side.
 20. The collapsible stroller ofclaim 16, wherein the front leg and handle assemblies are pivotablerelative to the rear leg assembly about the same axis.
 21. Thecollapsible stroller of claim 16, wherein the front leg assembly pivotsindependently of the handle assembly.
 22. The collapsible stroller ofclaim 16, wherein the locking member is a first locking member, thecollapsible stroller further comprising a second locking memberconfigured to lock the front leg and handle assemblies relative to therear leg assembly when the stroller is in its unfolded configuration.23. The collapsible stroller of claim 22, further comprising a firstactuator and a second actuator, the collapsible stroller configured suchthat actuating both the first and second actuators unlocks the secondlocking member when the stroller is in its unfolded configurationthereby releasing the locked front leg and handle assemblies.
 24. Thecollapsible stroller of claim 23, wherein the first actuator is abutton.
 25. The collapsible stroller of claim 23, wherein the secondactuator is a strap disposed on the link assembly.
 26. The collapsiblestroller of claim 25, wherein the strap is disposed on the rear memberof the link assembly.
 27. The collapsible stroller of claim 25, furthercomprising two rear wheels connected to the rear leg assembly and atleast one front wheel connected to the front leg assembly, thecollapsible stroller configured such that the strap is actuated bypulling the strap away from the two rear wheels and at least one frontwheel.
 28. The collapsible stroller of claim 16, further comprising aflexible cable, wherein a first end of the flexible cable is connectedto the rear leg assembly and a second end of the flexible cable isconnected to the link assembly.
 29. The collapsible stroller of claim16, wherein the front leg assembly includes a forward end portionconfigured to support at least one front wheel, and a rearward endportion including two legs that extend away from the forward end portionalong either side of the stroller.
 30. The collapsible stroller of claim16, wherein the rear leg assembly includes a lower end portionconfigured to support at least one rear wheel, and an upper portionincluding two legs that extend away from the lower end portion alongeither side of the stroller.
 31. The collapsible stroller of claim 16,wherein the handle assembly includes a handle portion and two side armsextending away from the handle portion along either side of thestroller.
 32. A method of adjusting a collapsible stroller including ahandle assembly, a front leg assembly and a rear leg assembly pivotablyconnected to one another such that the stroller is able to be movedbetween a folded configuration, where the front leg and handleassemblies are substantially adjacent to the rear leg assembly, and anunfolded configuration, where the front leg and handle assemblies arepositioned away from the rear leg assembly, the collapsible strollerfurther including a link assembly comprising a front member and a rearmember pivotally connected to one another, wherein the front member ispivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the front leg assemblyand the rear member is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion ofthe rear leg assembly, such that when the stroller is in its foldedconfiguration the front and rear members lie substantially adjacent toone another and the front and rear leg assemblies, and when the strolleris in its unfolded configuration the front and rear members aresubstantially coplanar with one another, the method comprising:actuating a first actuator of the collapsible stroller with thecollapsible stroller in its unfolded configuration; actuating a secondactuator of the collapsible stroller with the collapsible stroller inits unfolded configuration by pulling the second actuator, therebycausing the handle assembly to pivot towards the rear leg assembly untilthe handle assembly is locked to a locking member disposed on the rearleg assembly; and pulling the second actuator, subsequent to actuatingthe second actuator, thereby causing: (i) the front member to pivotrelative to the rear member and (ii) the front leg assembly to pivottowards the rear leg assembly until the front leg assembly is locked tothe locking member disposed on the rear leg assembly.
 33. The method ofclaim 32, wherein the handle assembly pivots towards the rear legassembly as a result of gravitational force alone, upon actuating thefirst and second actuators.
 34. The method of claim 33, furthercomprising actuating a third actuator of the locking member to therebyrelease the locked handle and front leg assemblies from the lockingmember.
 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising pivoting thereleased handle assembly away from the rear leg assembly and pivotingthe released front leg assembly away from the rear leg assembly.